National Celtic Folk Festival is back in Portarlington this June long weekend with one of its biggest programs yet.
Running 6–9 June on the Bellarine Peninsula, the National Celtic Folk Festival is bringing together a seriously strong international line-up alongside some of Australia’s best folk talent, spread across more than 10 venues throughout the coastal town.
Whether you’re a die-hard trad devotee or just looking for a great winter weekend away, there’s a lot to dig into.
Leading the international charge are Connemara siblings Séamus and Caoimhe, fresh off winning Best Emerging Artists at the RTÉ Folk Awards and a run with Riverdance’s 25th anniversary tour in New York.
National Celtic Folk Festival
- When: 6–9 June
- Where: Portarlington, Victoria
- Tickets here
Check out our gig guide, our festival guide, our live music venue guide and our nightclub guide. Follow us on Instagram here.
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They’re joined by Dublin’s Saltaire, rising trad stars The Bath Street Boys, Scottish harp and fiddle duo Rebecca Hill & Charlie Stewart, Amy Henderson & Luc McNally, and new-wave outfit Astro Bloc, who push Celtic tradition into genuinely genre-defying territory.
On the local front, neo-trad outfit Amaidí bring high-energy dance-driven sets, while award-winning band Austral blend Celtic influences with distinctly Australian sounds, didgeridoo and all. Crowd favourites Claymore, Double Shot Maggie, and The Maes are back, alongside Lucy Wise, Maggie Carty, Out of Hand, Homebru, and more.
Hat Fitz & Cara round things out with raw, roots-driven energy shaped by years of global touring.
Beyond the music, the program expands into theatre and storytelling. Acclaimed performer Michael Veitch presents Hell Ship, a powerful personal story of survival and migration.
The festival’s partnership with C21 Theatre in Ireland has also supported the development of a new Australian work, Never Always Ever Was, which gets its world premiere here.
Traditional heavy games and hurling are back on the programme, including a world championship play-off. There’s also a full céilí dance program with participatory events and workshops for all abilities, plus massed pipe and drum bands, competitions, and concerts throughout the weekend.
Families are well catered for, with Balla Wiin – Spirit of Country, an interactive shadow play experience grounded in the living traditions of Wadawurrung Country, among the highlights. You can also climb aboard a visiting tall ship for a bit of maritime adventure.
Irish chef Declan McGovern is on food duties, serving up traditional Irish cooking including a full Irish breakfast alongside old-fashioned cook-offs. Wander the weekend market for local artisans, handmade goods, and plenty of other food and drink. Mulled wine is also on the cards.
With over 60 acts across the weekend, it’s the kind of event you plan around. Portarlington in winter has never looked better.
For more information, head here.
